Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Earbud Headphones
The LinkBuds wireless headphones from Sony allow you to naturally hear your surroundings with their built-in ambient sound feature, enabling you to have conversations even while enjoying music. Whether you're cycling or commuting on a train, you can clearly hear the sounds around you, ensuring safety while indulging in your favorite tunes.
The unique Open-Ring design offers a snug fit that remains comfortable even during extended use. Additionally, these earphones deliver excellent sound quality, providing a clear and vibrant audio experience.
Moreover, these earphones are completely wireless, allowing for unrestricted movement. With a single charge, you can enjoy up to 5.5 hours of playback, and by using the included charging case, you can extend it to a total of up to 17.5 hours. The quick charging feature ensures that even a short charging time can provide long-lasting usage.
Compatible with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, you can control music playback, make calls, and search for information using just your voice.
Sony's LinkBuds wireless headphones with ambient sound capture are the perfect choice for those who desire the ability to hear external sounds, seek freedom of movement, and enjoy high-quality music.
SAMUSUNG Galaxy Buds2
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 provide an immersive sound experience, making you feel as if you're enjoying music at a live concert. With active noise cancellation, unwanted sounds are blocked, allowing you to maintain focus. The low-latency Ambient Sound mode lets you hear the desired sounds, ensuring optimal volume in any situation.
Galaxy Buds2 are 10% smaller and feature a lightweight and comfortable design compared to the Galaxy Buds+. You might even forget you're wearing them until the end of your playlist.
Equipped with three microphones and noise reduction technology, the earphones ensure clear communication in chats with friends or important meetings. The extended battery life allows for prolonged music enjoyment. Touch controls enable playlist management and call response with just a single finger.
Note that some advanced settings and features are available on Android devices running Android 7.0 or higher with at least 1.5GB of RAM, and these can be configured through the Galaxy Wearable app. Actual battery life may vary depending on factors such as settings, file types, and Bluetooth signal strength.
Wireless PowerShare is limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones and accessories that support WPC Qi wireless charging. Touch control functionality is available on Android devices running Android 7.0 or higher with at least 1.5GB of RAM. Auto Switch and One-Step Connection features are only available on Galaxy smartphones and tablets with Samsung OneUI 3.1 or higher.
Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3
The Xiaomi Redmi Bud Pro 3 is a cutting-edge semi-in-ear earphone that offers significant technological advancements in sound quality and functionality. With various sizes of silicone ear tips, each earphone weighs only 4.9g, providing a lightweight experience. The dual 9mm drivers deliver rich and natural sound, complete with active noise cancellation and environmental sound detection.
The active noise cancellation provides up to 35dB of deep noise cancellation, blocking excessive noises and vibrations like airplane engine sounds. It also filters out conversations in cafes or noisy environments, allowing you to stay focused. The Ambient Sound mode enables you to hear your surroundings without removing the earphones.
With three microphones and noise-canceling algorithms, the earphones capture your voice even in noisy environments, automatically prioritizing conversations. The dual 9mm drivers ensure crystal-clear playback of both voice and music.
The battery life lasts up to 28 hours, and the included clamshell charging case provides an additional 22 hours of power. You can charge it using a USB Type-C cable or any Qi wireless charging pad, and just 10 minutes of charging provides 3 hours of playback.
These earphones feature IPX4 sweat and splash resistance, as well as in-ear detection that automatically starts or stops playback when inserted or removed. They also have tap control for answering calls, playing/pausing music, and switching tracks.
The Xiaomi Redmi Bud Pro 3 is a recommended wireless earphone for those seeking an ambient sound feature, long-lasting usage, and high-quality music experience.
What is ambient sound mode?
Ambient sound mode, also known as external sound pickup or transparent mode, is a feature found in noise-canceling earphones or headphones.
This feature allows users to hear the surrounding environmental sounds. Typically, earphones with noise-canceling capabilities are designed to block out external noise. However, with the ambient sound mode, users can listen to music while still being aware of the sounds around them.
This feature proves particularly useful in situations where it's necessary to pay attention to the surrounding environment, such as listening to music while monitoring traffic conditions or engaging in conversations with people nearby. It also enables users to hear announcements or communicate with others without having to remove their earphones.
In most cases, users can activate or deactivate this feature by operating the controls on the earphones or headphones or by using related applications.
Pros and cons of ambient sound mode
Ambient sound mode, also referred to as transparent mode or ambient sound passthrough, offers significant benefits in various situations but also has some limitations. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
Awareness of the environment: With ambient sound mode turned on, users can recognize the surrounding sounds even while listening to music. This is particularly important from a safety standpoint, such as when crossing roads or walking in busy areas.
Enhanced communication: Being able to have conversations with others without removing the earphones leads to smoother communication. This is especially beneficial in office environments or public places.
Prevention of missed announcements: It allows users to enjoy music without missing out on announcements in public places like trains, buses, or airports.
Cons:
Decreased sound quality: Some users may perceive a decrease in sound quality when ambient sound mode is activated. This is because external noises can potentially degrade the audio experience.
Reduced battery life: Since this feature requires additional power, it may shorten the battery life of the earphones.
Misidentification of sounds: The feature may not always accurately distinguish external noises, and it might pick up sounds that the user doesn't want to hear.
It's important to determine the usage of ambient sound mode based on individual needs and specific situations.